The Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry has created new resources related to laws that went into effect this year, including a webpage about keeping workers safe in meatpacking and poultry processing facilities and another webpage related to a new law ensuring only skilled workers are hired at oil refineries.

• View more information about the Safe Workplaces for Meat and Poultry Processing Workers Act.
• View more information about skilled and trained contractor workforce requirements.

News release:  Retail chain agrees to pay back-wages, damages and penalties after investigation finds company violated protections for nursing employees

The Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry recently entered into a consent order with Menard, Inc. (Menards), requiring the retail chain to comply with Minnesota law that directs employers to provide lactating workers with reasonable paid break time to express milk. The agreement also requires Menards to pay back-wages and compensatory damages to an employee for deducting wages from her pay for taking breaks to express milk and retaliating against her for asserting her workplace rights.

• Read the complete release.